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5 Traits That Make The Perfect Home Office

March 27, 2023

A major benefit from the recent changes to the modern workplace has been the newfound flexibility in where people can do their work. Whether that means spending time at the office or remoting in from a coffee shop across the country, learning how to maximize productivity while capitalizing on opportunities this freedom affords has been an ongoing process for employers and workers alike. Home offices are coming back into style in a big way, as remote or hybrid workers have searched for ways to increase their at-home productivity. If you are looking to adapt a room in your home to improve your remote working conditions or you’re interested in a revamp of your current workspace, here are a few traits that will make your home office first-class! 1. Select the Right SpaceThe first and most important aspect you must consider when setting up your home office is the location. Homes are full of distractions, especially if there are kids running around. Ideally, locate an area that is separated from the majority of natural traffic and noise so that you have the opportunity to focus on your work. Additionally, do what you can to separate yourself from home leisure items as

How to Remodel Your Basement on a Budget

March 20, 2023

Whether you are a new homeowner looking to make some alterations or you’re finally ready to make your dream home a reality, there is no project as impactful to the way you live in your home than a basement remodel. Depending on the size of your home, finishing your basement could double your usable living space! Additionally, with cost savings from added insulation and value added to your home on resale, it’s no wonder that homeowners get so excited about starting their basement remodeling projects. Too often, though, our imaginations are limited by our budget. While a basement could transition into a cozy home theater for a movie night in, or a wide area for the kids to play, the costs of remodeling a basement can stack up quickly. For any prospective DIYers or homeowners looking to make the most of their money, here are some quick tips for how to remodel a basement on a budget. Pace YourselfThe first thing that every homeowner should do when planning a home improvement project is to assess their capabilities. While it’s true that there is the potential for substantial savings by doing some (or all) of your renovation work on your own,

How to Paint a Home’s Exterior (And When To Hire a Professional)

March 13, 2023

There are so many reasons why people paint their homes. Maybe a room has gotten a bit stale and could use a new color, or nicks and scratches have been compounding the need for some serious TLC. A fresh coat of paint is a great way to solve these aesthetic issues, but paint has many other benefits for a home’s exterior! Good quality paint will help protect homes from the elements, insects, weather, and even wood rot. While a home should never be judged solely on its exterior, a tidy, attractive first impression is crucial for every home sale. Before getting too excited though, there are a few things every homeowner should know when considering a home exterior makeover. Pick the Perfect DayIf you are set on painting your home’s exterior yourself, it’s important to understand what you’re in for. Painting a home is a big job that should start a long before you pick up a brush or roller. Unlike interior jobs, a successful day of painting a home’s exterior is heavily dependent on the weather. Direct sunlight will cause paint to dry more quickly, and certain types of paint will thicken in colder temperatures. In addition, things like

Property Inspections Are Reaching New Heights With Drones

March 6, 2023

When students try to predict their future careers, they face a tall task. More likely than not, their future career probably doesn’t even exist yet! Technology is advancing at a breakneck pace, and as a result, workers are finding themselves in exciting new fields and industry standards are transforming every year. These new technologies give many professions brand new tools which allow them to accomplish things scarcely imagined in the past. In the property inspection industry, a tool that’s finding its way into many inspectors’ tool belts and may be revolutionizing the field is the drone. What Are Drones?Drones are a short-hand name used when referring to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (or UAVs). This general term refers to an incredibly wide range of devices that have been used in various recreational activities, to capture footage for films, and even to perform reconnaissance in warfare. Though they started out as mostly a novelty when made available to the public, drones have quickly become a tool to aid various commercial enterprises. In the field of property inspections, drones are more lightweight than some of their industrial counterparts. Property inspectors are restricted to units weighing under 55 pounds, but most are under three pounds

How To Stop Burglars In Their Tracks When You’re On Vacation

February 27, 2023

Between work, school, family, and friends, life gets busy! You work hard, and you deserve a nice long break from time to time. But leaving your home for an extended period of time can be stressful. After a relaxing trip, no one wants to return home to discover a break-in or a maintenance disaster. Taking some precautions prior to your time away is the best way to ensure you’ll have peace of mind to enjoy your vacation to its fullest! Recently, insurance experts at The Zebra compiled the latest statistics regarding burglaries in the United States. According to their research, 2.5 million burglaries occur annually in the U.S. In other words, there are new victims of home break-ins every 26 seconds. Solid home security should be a priority for all homeowners. The good news is that there are proven strategies to keep your home safe and your valuables secure while you take that next trip. Here are a few strategies every homeowner should consider to keep their home secure while it’s empty. Invest in a Security SystemThe best thing that any homeowner can do is to get a smart home security system. According to an article from Forbes, 83% of

Why Hardwood Floors Are Awesome (And How To Keep Them That Way)

February 20, 2023

Finding the perfect look for your home can take a lot of experimentation before everything comes together. Maybe a new shade of paint is the missing ingredient for your living room, or perhaps it’s a new set of countertops that would result in the kitchen of your dreams. While there are many changes that can radically alter the look of a room, there is almost no change as impactful as switching to hardwood floors. For many new homeowners, installing hardwood floors is at the top of their to-do list. While carpet can provide a feeling of warmth and comfort for a family, any new occupants may see old carpeted areas as a den of decades-old germs and allergens ready to strike. If you haven’t made the switch already, here are a few benefits of hardwood floors, along with some strategies to maintain them. Advantages of Hardwood FlooringFor any style or color scheme, hardwood flooring is extremely versatile. While interior design can boil down to a matter of taste, nothing matches the dynamic that hardwood floors can bring to a room—and designers swear by them! While certain woods lend themselves well to certain styles, stains and refinishing options can make your

How To Show Your Home You Care

February 13, 2023

Our homes are always there for us. They keep us warm and dry on rainy nights. They offer a calming retreat after a hard day’s work. Life is busy. Oftentimes, homeowners get caught up with their regular routines, and many helpful home maintenance tasks understandably get forgotten. People do what they need to and rarely much more. Considering everything that our homes do for us, we should take every opportunity to give back! Going above and beyond with home care can extend the lives of crucial systems, and mitigate potential breakdowns. To add to your regular routine, add these home maintenance tasks to show your home you care. Test Your Sump Pump While not every home has a sump pump, these drainage systems are vital to avoid flooding. Located in basements, sump pumps consist of a small basin and a hole which detects water levels. When working properly, these pumps expel water from homes when these levels are too high and redirect floodwaters safely away. Homeowners can test their sump pumps easily by filling a bucket with water and dumping it into the drain. If things aren’t working properly, discovering the issue during one of these controlled tests is certainly

The Pros and Con(do)s of Buying A Condo

February 6, 2023

As people progress in their lives, chances are that they will experience a desire for increased ownership and investment in their living space. For many, this might mean a transition from an apartment to a traditional single-family home. Certainly, a traditional home has many potential draws for a first-time homeowner, but depending on priorities and interests, it would be a mistake not to consider a condominium. Condos are often regarded as a less expensive, more obtainable first home for young people. If you are in the market for home ownership, it would be valuable to review the pros and cons of buying a condo. But first, it’s important to develop a general understanding of how a condominium differs from an apartment or a traditional home. What Is A Condominium? A condominium is a residential complex consisting of separate units, each owned by their respective resident. Often abbreviated as simply “condos,” these units resemble apartments in some ways, often sharing walls with other units. Sometimes they are even located in highrise buildings, with units above or below one another. Condo owners are responsible for the upkeep of their units’ interiors, while they must join their condo’s association to collectively care for

How Zoning Laws Affect Your Home

January 30, 2023

The prospect of becoming a new homeowner is undoubtedly an exciting one. Sure, there are plenty of stressful aspects to consider, but the possibilities floating in homebuyers’ minds can be nearly endless. However, there are some limiting factors that every homeowner should be aware of before starting any ambitious projects on their new properties. Some might be under the impression that they are free to do what they like on their own property, but local governments have long-held zoning laws meant to protect their citizens. To navigate the world of zoning laws with confidence, let’s break down what they are, and how they might change your next home improvement project. What Are Zoning Laws? Zoning laws have a long history stretching back to the early 20th-century as governments outlined the distinction between what property owners could do on their land and what local governments could do to limit those actions. In short, they are rules that dictate what sorts of buildings exist and where they are built. Over time, common standards were developed with the public in mind. For example, zoning laws restrict where industrial buildings can be established. Residential zones are largely protected from being near large production facilities

Home Features That Ward Off Radon: A Guide for Homebuyers

January 23, 2023

If you aren’t familiar with radon yet, now is the time to learn about this potentially deadly natural gas. Outside of smoking, radon is the number one cause for lung cancer in the US and Canada. One thing that separates radon from other lethal gases, however, is its uniquely subtle nature. radon is an odorless and colorless gas, created through a natural process of uranium deterioration in the soil. Everyone is affected by radon gas, but outside and in the open air, radon has room to freely dilute down to non-hazardous levels. Too frequently though, homes can restrict the space that radon needs to dilute into these safe levels. For Canada, the World Health Organization warns that homes with over 200 Bq/m3 of radon are unsafe and require immediate radon remediation. In the US, this guideline is even lower, at 4 pCi/L (or ~150 Bq/m3). (Check out the WHO’s recent coverage of the topic here.) While not all homes experience the same average volume of radon dilution, the US’s Environmental Protection Agency has published a zone map so that homebuyers can be aware of the overall trends in their area. Only a certified professional can be relied upon for an